Page 66 of A Crown Without Mercy

“You won’t have the powers of a pure born. However, it does not mean you will become a feral.”

“Promise me. I won’t end up like them.”

“I promise, my love,” he replied, along with a kiss.

They walked into the center of the pack and stood beneath the full moon, surrounded by a cascading landscape of boulders and an endless array of trees swaddled in a layer of vaporous mist.

They completed the ceremony and Cobium, Lupine, and Muriel turned and faced the pack. “It is with great honor I introduce your pack leader, Ranan Lupine, Kashgar’s mate, Muriel Kashgar.”

As soon as the entire pack lifted their heads and howled, Muriel looked up at Lupine, and smiled. “What now?”

“I will turn you, while our pack celebrates and waits for their newest member to join them.” He took her hand in his and escorted her to his small, timber-framed house with a thatched roof.

He unbuttoned her simple, white cotton gown and slid the material off of her shoulders. After a passionate kiss, he picked her up, carried her to the bed, and laid her on her back. He then undressed and crawled over the top of her.

She felt a rush of nervous anticipation as he settled between her legs. “What do I do?” she asked timidly.

“You don’t have to do anything. The wolf will come for you.”

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

“Do not be afraid, my love. It will only take one bite and I will be at your side.”

“Will it be painful?”

“Yes. It will be, but you can handle it,” he replied bluntly. “Are you ready?”

Her hands trembled, and in this moment, she questioned whether she had made the right decision. She was about to give up all she had known, and the mere thought of the transformation terrified her.

He felt her trepidation and gently stroked her cheek. “I will give you the life you deserve. Do not be afraid.”

“I’m ready,” she replied.

Sylvana was lying on her back, trying to fall asleep. All the while, she couldn’t get Nicolai or Kieran out of her mind, not to mention she told Calista everything. She rolled over for the umpteenth time, bunched up her pillow, and closed her eyes.

She felt the covers tighten around her body and the warmth of someone’s breath in her ear. Her pulse raced, and she tried to call out to Alaric. However, a large hand muffled her sounds. “Shh,” was all he said.

She gathered her composure and squinted her eyes, only to find Nicolai kneeling over her and Kieran standing next to her bed. “What are the two of you doing here?”

“You were supposed to come to us tonight.”

“I told you no.”

Nicolai crawled over the top of her and pinned her down. “We won’t be leaving, and if you protest too loudly, you will wake everyone.” He winked.

She tried to break free, but he had her pinned beneath him. “Get off of me,” she whispered sternly.

“I plan ongetting off, just not in the way you’re demanding,” Nicolai teased.

Kieran crawled into the bed next to them and ran his hand down her cheek. “Relax, Sylvana, you know you want us,” he teased.

“Nicolai, let me up.”

He released his grip, sat up, pulled his shirt over his head, and tossed it aside.

Sylvana sat up and pushed his chest. “I’m not sleeping with either of you.”

“So serious,” Kieran stated coyly.

---